Missouri

Missouri is a landlocked state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it borders Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas to the south and Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska to the west. In the south are the Ozarks, a forested highland, providing timber, minerals, and recreation. The Missouri River, after which the state is named, flows through the center and into the Mississippi River, which makes up the eastern border. With over six million residents, it is the 18th-most populous state of the country. The largest urban areas are St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia; the capital is Jefferson City.

Some of the key events about Missouri

1803
The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States, including the territory that would become Missouri
1821
Missouri was admitted as the 24th state of the United States
1838
Thousands of Cherokee people were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, passing through Missouri on the "Trail of Tears"
1861
Missouri became a divided state during the Civil War, with both Union and Confederate sympathizers causing internal conflict
1865
The steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River near Missouri, killing an estimated 1,800 people
1904
St. Louis hosted the World's Fair and the Summer Olympics
1927
Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in an aircraft built in St. Louis
1927
A devastating tornado struck St. Louis, killing 79 people and causing widespread destruction
1935
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis was approved for construction
1954
The U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision highlighted Missouri's racial segregation in schools
1956
The Interstate Highway System was initiated, with Missouri being the first state to award a contract
1965
The Gateway Arch was completed, becoming an iconic symbol of St. Louis and the westward expansion
1967
A series of race riots erupted in Kansas City, resulting in six deaths and extensive property damage
1985
The Kansas City Royals won their first World Series championship
1993
The "Great Flood" of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers caused billions of dollars in damage and displaced thousands
1999
Missouri's economy diversified significantly, becoming a leader in biotechnology and life sciences
2011
Joplin residents demonstrated remarkable resilience and community spirit in rebuilding after a devastating EF5 tornado
2011
A powerful EF5 tornado struck Joplin, killing 158 people and becoming one of the deadliest in U.S. history
2014
Civil unrest and protests erupted in Ferguson following a controversial police shooting
2018
A tourist duck boat sank on Table Rock Lake near Branson, resulting in 17 fatalities

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.